In the person of Pope Francis, a prophet "has come among us," a joyous event in which all Christians and all persons given to human flourishing can exult.

I write this as a Protestant who recognizes that in his recent Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium ("the Joy of the Gospel"), Francis has provided unexcelled pastoral guidance for all persons committed to human well-being in a culture that endlessly finds new ways to erode God's gifted image in us.

We will have much to learn from this wise shepherd who is enthralled by the gospel of Christian hope for all persons, and who is keenly alert to the gods of greed, technological servitude, isolation and cynicism so bent on human degradation.

All of us will do well to go out to hear this prophet now crying in the wilderness, "Prepare the way of the Lord!"